Wiener, bratwurst, hot dog, frankfurter, banger, snag, or kielbasa. Whatever you call them, who doesn't love to smother 'em in condiments and chow on down. Here at Citizine, we are big fans of the almighty sausage, be it meaty or vegan.
Meet our food-obsessed staff as they dish on the best hot dogs in Los Angeles for some mustard-drenched, cheese-and-onion-baptized links of heaven.
Arden Shore - Associate Editor
Jeff's Gourmet Sausage Factory
Pico-Robertson, $$
Arden Shore: Jeff’s is super old school and super LA. YA GOTTA get the jumbo kosher dog (I think it's only 3 or 4 bucks.) Just a simply delicious dog.
Wurstküche
DTLA Arts District, $$
AS: Expensive but worth the hype. Try the fun flavors like rattlesnake and duck. And never skimp out on the fries.
Seoul Sausage Co.
Sawtelle, $$
AS: Super juicy. Try the spicy pork sausage and definitely get the flaming rice balls on the side to split.
Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom
Venice, $
AS: On the Venice boardwalk. A classic! This one has been around for decades.
Jody Maroni’s. Image courtesy of @chickswithknives
Paige Barnett - Sr. Director, Production & Operations
The Slaw Dogs
Pasadena, $
Paige Barnett: Cozy (as in physically small) but a very popular, local spot. Friendly owners. Quality ingredients. Always tasty. They have crossover mashups that seem like they wouldn't work at all, but end up being a tastebud explosion, like the O.G. Thai Slaw Dog.
Carney's Restaurant
Sunset Strip, $
PB: Hot dogs. Served in a train. Loaded. Like 5 different ways. Is there any more to say?
Dog Haus
Pasadena, $
PB: If Berlin and Los Angeles had a baby, this is what you'd get. Do the Soooo Cali with arugula and no cheese—when you're watching your waistline. Those calories don't count.
Umami Burger
Burbank, $$
PB: This location used to be Papoo’s—an iconic Toluca Lake mom-and-pop hot dog stand. So this particular Umami serves high-end gourmet dogs in homage to its roots. Take any burger on the menu and make it a dog. Mmmmm.
Carney Train. Image courtesy of @designerdiets
Chris Kwon - Director/Platforms
Seoul Sausage Co. DTLA
Little Tokyo, $$
Chris Kwon: These guys won the Food Network’s food truck challenge. They have two locations and their Korean fusion dogs are so good. But it’s their rice balls that are the bomb.
Wurstküche Venice
Venice, $$
CK: Beers and brats, what’s not to like. I usually swing by the one in Venice.
Seoul Sausage. Image courtesy of @moufwet
Wurstkuche. Image courtesy of @wurstkuche
Justin Wagner - Partner Activations Manager
Pink's Hot Dogs
Fairfax, $
Justin Wagner: At 76yrs old, Pink's is one of those generational LA institutions that our parents get, and we just go with the flow really. If your eyebrows raise, cheeks cringe, and you catch yourself murmuring "uhh" then yes, you should probably order it.
Dodger Dogs
Dodger Stadium, Elysian Park, $$
JW: Whether you're dodging the traffic, a ball, or the popular LA vegan/veggie diets, nothing hits the spot quite like a Dodger Dog at a Dodger game. Load it up with ketchup, mustard, onions and complement it with a beer and garlic fries, and you’re almost a True Blue Dodger fan.
Tail o' the Pup
Opening soon at La Cienega and DTLA, $
JW: This hot dog shaped hot dog stand will forever be an effervescent architectural hot dog shaped memory for me and it's now being resurrected! Order it all because there's nothing like eating a hot dog in a hot dog stand. *Stay tuned over on their facebook.
Pink’s Hot dogs. Image courtesy of @s_pasquali
Dodger Dogs. Image courtesy of @levy.restaurants
Lanee Lee - Senior Editor
Fritzi Dog
Farmers Market, $$
Lanee Lee: I avoid carrots like the plague, but Fritzi's vegan hot dog (carrot subs as wiener and then topped with charred brussel sprouts) has won me over. So weird. So good. And it’s actually healthy...I think?
Oki Dog
Fairfax, $
LL: This is a hybrid dog of Herculean proportions: a burrito stuffed with two franks, chili, pastrami, American cheese and mustard. Put one of these back and plan on planting yourself in the nearest hammock ‘till day’s end.
Dave's Dog House
STAPLES Center, DTLA, $$
LL: Coming from one of LA’s most famous fine dining chefs that specializes in French inspired food, it’s no surprise the buns on Josiah Citrin's dogs are worth every buttery bite. My favorite is the California dog slathered with the chef’s own chili recipe.
Fritzi Carrot Dog. Image courtesy of @shawnbannon
Melissa Karlin - Social Media and Marketing Associate
Berlin Currywurst
Grand Central Market, DTLA, $
MK: I’ve spent way too much time wandering around the streets of Europe, eating street meat. And this place reminds me of that. The perfect flavor memories of Germany and Austria.
Cupid's Hot Dogs
Northridge, $
MK: Super old school! They have a real bite to them that’s awesome. I somehow survived eating a lot of their chili dogs in high school.
Dodger Dogs
Dodger Stadium, $$
MK: I tend to mostly eat hot dogs when I'm at Dodger Stadium, so it’s kind of a special occasion. But only the all beef and only grilled with a shit ton of deli mustard. It pleases my old-school Brooklyn-Jew soul.
The Greasy Wiener
Food Truck - various locations, $
MK: Really amazing food truck with awesome hot dogs. Big and crazy and totally awesome. Perfect when you’re chilling at a summer festival like Eat See Hear.
Berlin Currywurst. Image courtesy of @_lovely_cupcakes
Cupid’s Hot Dogs. Image courtesy of @cupids_hotdogs
Belinda Gosbee - Staff Writer
Wurstküche Restaurant
DTLA Arts District, $$
Belinda Gosbee: I’m pescatarian so anywhere with veggie wieners on the menu gets me super excited. It’s great to be able to throw back a beer and a dog with my meat-loving friends. Wurstküche’s Vegetarian Smoked Apple Sage dog is the bomb!
Fritzi
DTLA, $$
BG: Fritzi is right next door to The Arts District Brewing Co but has a window INTO the bar so they can cater for all your bar snack needs. The Fritzi carrot dog must be seen to be believed. It looks like a dog but it’s one big spiced carrot, topped with the most divine crispy Brussels sprouts.
Tony's Darts Away
Burbank, $$
BG: So many vegan dogs! There’s the Beer Brat, The Italian Stallion, The Mexicali but I love the Mango Apple dog (I have a serious weakness for mangos). It comes with mustard, slaw and juicy mango salsa.
Link N Hops
Atwater Village, $$
BG: Another grand selection of vegan wieners but the best part is that you can get all of them if you order the platter, which will also score you fries. I love the simplicity of the Beerbrat — tofu, ale, onions and spices. Also order a dill pickle!
Mango Apple dog at Tony’s. Image courtesy of @theteeniestpinecone
Link N Hops Vegan platter. Image courtesy of @veganeastsider
